[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 55 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2425-S2427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
S. 3222. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct
a study of alternatives for commemorating interpreting the role of the
Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and
Senator Boxer to introduce the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks
Study Act. This legislation is an important step in preserving the
legacy of the Army's first all-black infantry and cavalry units and
their unique role in the creation of our National Park system.
Established Congressionally by 1869, the Buffalo Soldiers served
bravely in campaigns both at home and abroad before being stationed at
the military Presidio in San Francisco and given charge of patrolling
the National Park system. Although first tasked with taming the
frontier, these troops also took on the responsibility of preserving
that wilderness for future generations. Each summer, Buffalo Soldier
regiments traveled roughly 320 miles from San Francisco to either
Sequoia or Yosemite National Park, where they patrolled the parks for
poachers and loggers, built trails, and escorted visitors. They were,
in essence if not in name, the nation's first park rangers.
In a time of segregation and adversity, these soldiers served their
country bravely and the National Parks they worked to establish are
part of the legacy they leave behind. Unfortunately, this unique aspect
of their history is neither widely recognized nor remembered. This
legislation would address that by authorizing a study to determine the
most appropriate way to memorialize the Buffalo Soldiers. Money
procured under the act would be used to determine the feasibility of
establishing a national historic trail along the route traveled by the
Buffalo Soldiers, scout for properties to add to the National Register
of Historic Places, and develop educational initiatives and a public
awareness campaign about the contribution of African-American soldiers
after the Civil War.
although the experiences of the Buffalo Soldiers are an important
piece of our national history, we are in danger of losing their legacy
to the passage of time unless we take conscious steps to preserve the
memory. This legislation works to ensure that the contributions of the
Buffalo Soldiers will be remembered and shared by all. I urge my
colleagues to join me in their support for this measure.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 3222
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Buffalo Soldiers in the
National Parks Study Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) In the late 19th century and early 20th century,
African-American troops who came to be known as the Buffalo
Soldiers served in many critical roles in the western United
States, including protecting some of the first National
Parks.
(2) Based at the Presidio in San Francisco, Buffalo
Soldiers were assigned to Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks
where they patrolled the backcountry, built trails, stopped
poaching, and otherwise served in the roles later assumed by
National Park rangers.
(3) The public would benefit from having opportunities to
learn more about the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks
and their contributions to the management of National Parks
and the legacy of African-Americans in the post-Civil War
era.
(4) As the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016
approaches, it is an especially appropriate time to conduct
research and increase public awareness of the stewardship
role the Buffalo Soldiers played in the early years of the
National Parks.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize a
study to determine the most effective ways to increase
understanding and public awareness of the critical role that
the Buffalo Soldiers played in the early years of the
National Parks.
SEC. 3. STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and
interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early
years of the National Parks.
(b) Contents of Study.--The study shall include--
(1) a historical assessment, based on extensive research,
of the Buffalo Soldiers who served in National Parks in the
years prior to the establishment of the National Park
Service;
(2) an evaluation of the suitability and feasibility of
establishing a national historic trail commemorating the
route traveled by the Buffalo Soldiers from their post in the
Presidio of San Francisco to Sequoia and Yosemite National
Parks and to any other National Parks where they may have
served;
(3) the identification of properties that could meet
criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic
Places or criteria for designation as National Historic
Landmarks;
(4) an evaluation of appropriate ways to enhance historical
research, education, interpretation, and public awareness of
the story of the Buffalo Soldiers' stewardship role in the
National Parks, including ways to link the story to the
development of National Parks and the story of African-
American military service following the Civil War; and
(5) any other matters that the Secretary of the Interior
deems appropriate for this study.
(c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after funds are made
available for the study, the Secretary of the Interior shall
submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report containing the study's
findings and recommendations.
______
By Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Crapo,
Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Risch, and Mr. Bennet):
S. 3224. A bill to amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to
improve compensation for workers involved in uranium mining, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
[[Page S2426]]
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act amendments of 2010. The Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act, known as RECA, was first introduced in this
body 21 years ago today. Proposed by the Senator from Utah, Orrin
Hatch, this original legislation was a monumental step in recognizing
some of the unheralded victims of the Cold-War era.
As the United States Government built up its Cold-War nuclear arsenal
during the mid-20th century, many Americans paid the price with their
health. Some were sickened through exposure to aboveground atomic
weapons tests. Others were exposed to heavy doses of radiation from
working in the uranium mining industry. All the while the government
was slow to implement Federal protections.
As a result, a generation of Americans who worked in the mines or
lived near testing sites became sick with serious diseases such as lung
cancer and kidney disease and many others.
Much of the U.S. uranium development occurred on the Navajo Nation.
That is where jobs in the mines and mills drew workers from the
surrounding rural areas. These workers and much of the country were
unaware of the dangers of radiation exposure, and this was despite
reports from the European mining industry indicating that uranium
mining led to high rates of lung cancer. There should have been a
warning call, there should have been a wake-up call, but there wasn't.
In the ensuing years, rates of lung cancer among Navajo Indians went
from disproportionately low to disproportionately high compared with
the rest of the U.S. population. This was clearly a result of uranium
development and related radiation exposure.
In addition to lung cancer, numerous other illnesses began to emerge
in the men and women who worked in the uranium mining industry. These
individuals were not limited to the Navajo Nation. In my home State of
New Mexico, the Pueblo of Laguna was home to the Nation's largest open
pit uranium mine. Workers from across the State came to the mines,
especially from the economically struggling communities of rural New
Mexico.
In the late 1970s, my father, Stewart Udall, took up the fight for
these workers. In 1979, my father filed 32 claims against the
Department of Energy on behalf of widows of deceased Navajo uranium
miners. In many ways, this marked the beginning of the fight for
compensation for all uranium workers.
I remember working those years with my whole family to collect
information and push for recognition. It was a family effort to fight
for justice, and for me it continues to be a family priority.
Ten years later, the original RECA legislation was introduced in the
Senate. It passed in 1990, giving a level of restitution to sick miners
and millers, as well as individuals living downwind of nuclear tests.
Amendments to RECA have occurred over the ensuing decades, most
significantly in 2000. That is when the act was expanded to include
mill workers and ore transporters and expand downwind counties, among
other things.
Today, with Senators Jeff Bingaman, Mike Crapo, Mark Udall, Michael
Bennet, and James Risch, I introduced a piece of legislation that takes
the next step in addressing the remaining shortfalls of the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act. I wish to highlight some of the provisions
of our bill.
First, the inclusion of post-1971 uranium miners and workers as
qualified claimants. While the Federal Government ceased the purchase
of domestic uranium in 1971, implementation of Federal work safety
standards was slow and regulation of mines was poor. As a result,
thousands of miners and millers were never made aware of the dangers of
the yellow cake they handled on a regular basis.
In recent surveys, the majority of uranium workers from this period
reported they did not have showers or wash basins in the mines where
they worked. They often took contaminated clothing home for laundering,
unaware of the hazards, and with no other option for cleaning. Many
also reported that ventilation to prevent unnecessary exposure was not
provided in their work areas.
Today, these workers continue to suffer and die from illnesses
related to radiation exposure. But because their employment dates began
after 1971, they have no opportunity for compensation. Our bill changes
that. If the measure passes, individuals working from 1971 until 1990
will qualify to claim compensation for exposure-related diseases.
The bill we are introducing today would also expand the geographic
areas that qualify for downwind compensation to include New Mexico,
Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Guam. And for the first time, the bill
recognizes downwind exposure from the original atomic weapons test
site--the Trinity Site in New Mexico.
This legislation would raise compensation levels for those exposed as
a result of aboveground weapons tests. This would make their
compensation consistent with their counterparts who worked in the mines
and mills.
The bill would also facilitate epidemiological research on the
impacts of uranium development on communities and families of uranium
workers. It authorizes funding for the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences to award grants to universities and
nonprofits to carry out such research. We are seeking to broaden the
use of affidavits to substantiate employment history and residence in
an affected downwind area.
Many who have suffered as a result of Cold-War uranium and weapons
development did not have the documentation to prove their exposure.
Often mines and mills did not keep proper documentation of their
workers, and many communities impacted did not have a tradition of
keeping birth and marriage certification. The bill would allow
individuals to combine their time worked in multiple positions to meet
the work time requirements for compensation in the original RECA
legislation.
Finally, this legislation would allow miners to be compensated for
kidney disease, and it would allow core drillers to join miners,
millers, and ore transporters on the current list of uranium workers
who qualify for compensation under the act.
Uranium and weapons development of the Cold-War era left a gruesome
legacy in communities of mine workers and downwinders. For more than
two decades now the United States has tried to compensate in some way
for the sickness and loss of life. Today, we are taking the next step
to close this sad chapter in history and to improve the reach of
compassionate compensation to those Americans who have suffered but
have not qualified under RECA in its current form.
In introducing this legislation, I honor all those who continue to
suffer from deadly illnesses as a result of radiation exposure but
don't qualify for compensation--especially those workers who began
employment after 1971 and, thus, do not qualify for RECA.
I look forward to working with my colleagues to recognize these
individuals and expand RECA to include all who are justified in
receiving radiation exposure compensation.
______
By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Bennett, Mrs.
Gillibrand, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Schumer):
S. 3227. A bill to authorize the Archivist of the United States to
make grants to States for the preservation and dissemination of
historical records; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the Preserving the
American Historical Record Act, a bill that I introduced along with
Senator Levin today. This is a piece of legislation designed to ensure
the protection of important historical documents housed and preserved
at the State and local level.
Put simply, this legislation would require the Archivist of the
United States to make grants to the States for a number of purposes,
including protecting historical records, promoting the use of such
records in new and creative ways, providing education and training to
those who care for historical records and creating a wide variety of
access tools of key records maintained by State and local
organizations. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 a year--a very modest
sum, all things considered--to be distributed among the States
according to formulas based on both size and geographical area.
[[Page S2427]]
We live in a time where there has been a resurgence in interest in
family history and genealogical research. With the advancement of
internet research tools, millions of Americans have gone online to
learn more about their pasts. Indeed, this type of research is among
the more prominent uses of Internet resources, as evidenced by the
growth of websites and services like Ancestry.com and Family Search.
Also, millions of Americans have tuned into hit television shows
describing the experience and revelation that comes with the discovery
of one's family history.
I want to thank Senator Levin for working with me on this
legislation, as well as our cosponsors Senators Bennett, Schumer,
Kerry, Shaheen, and Gillibrand.
____________________